scholarly journals Host–Guest-Induced Electron Transfer Triggers Radical-Cation Catalysis

2020 ◽  
Vol 142 (5) ◽  
pp. 2134-2139 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rebecca L. Spicer ◽  
Athanasios D. Stergiou ◽  
Tom A. Young ◽  
Fernanda Duarte ◽  
Mark D. Symes ◽  
...  
1989 ◽  
Vol 67 (4) ◽  
pp. 689-698 ◽  
Author(s):  
Donald R. Arnold ◽  
Shelley A. Mines

Alkenes, conjugated with a phenyl group, can be converted to nonconjugated tautomers by sensitized (electron transfer) irradiation. For example, irradiation of an acetonitrile solution of the conjugated alkene 1-phenylpropene, the electron accepting photosensitizer 1,4-dicyanobenzene, the cosensitizer biphenyl, and the base 2,4,6-trimethylpyridine gave the nonconjugated tautomer 3-phenylpropene in good yield. Similarly, 2-methyl-1-phenylpropene gave 2-methyl-3-phenylpropene, and 1-phenyl-1-butene gaveE- and Z-1-phenyl-2-butene. The reaction also works well with cyclic alkenes. For example, 1-phenylcyclohexene gave 3-phenylcyclohexene, and 1-(phenylmethylene)cyclohexane gave 1-(phenylmethyl)cyclohexene. The proposed mechanism involves the initial formation of the alkene radical cation and the sensitizer radical anion, induced by irradiation of the sensitizer and mediated by the cosensitizer. Deprotonation of the radical cation assisted by the base gives the ambident radical, which is then reduced to the anion by the sensitizer radical anion. Protonation of the ambident anion at the benzylic position completes the sequence. Reprotonation at the original position is an energy wasting step. Tautomerization is driven toward the isomer with the higher oxidation potential, which is, in the cases studied, the less thermodynamically stable isomer. The regioselectivity of the deprotonation step is dependent upon the conformation of the allylic carbon–hydrogen bond. The tautomerization of 2-methyl- 1-phenylbutene gave both 2-phenylmethyl-1-butène and 2-methyl-1-phenyl-2-butene (E and Z isomers), while 2,3-dimethyl- 1-phenylbutene gave only 3-methyl-2-phenylmethyl-1 -butene. In the latter case, steric interaction of the methyls on the isopropyl group prevents effective overlap of the tertiary carbon–hydrogen bond with the singly occupied molecular orbital, thus inhibiting deprotonation from this site. Keywords: photosensitized, electron transfer, alkene, tautomerization, radical cation.


Author(s):  
Georgia Thornton ◽  
Ryan Phelps ◽  
Andrew Orr-Ewing

The polymerization of photoexcited N-ethylcarbazole (N-EC) in the presence of an electron acceptor begins with an electron transfer (ET) step to generate a radical cation of N-EC (N-EC+.). Here, the...


1991 ◽  
Vol 69 (2) ◽  
pp. 225-233 ◽  
Author(s):  
Donald R. Arnold ◽  
Laurie J. Lamont ◽  
Allyson L. Perrott

The reactivity of the radical cations of methyl 2,2-diphenylcyclohexyl ether (7), 6,6-diphenyl-1,4-dioxaspiro[4.5]decane (8), methyl cis- and trans-2-phenylcyclohexyl ether (9cis and trans), and 6-phenyl-1,4-dioxaspiro[4.5]decane (10), generated by photosensitized (electron transfer) irradiation, has been studied. Solutions of the ethers and acetals in acetonitrile–methanol (3:1), with 1,4-dicyanobenzene (2) serving as the electron acceptor, were irradiated with a medium-pressure mercury vapour lamp through Pyrex. The diphenyl derivatives 7 and 8 were reactive; 7 gave 6,6-diphenylhexanal dimethyl acetal (11) and 8 gave 2-methoxy-2-(5,5-diphenylpentyl)-1,3-dioxolane (12). These are the products expected from the intermediate 1,6-radical cation, formed upon carbon–carbon bond cleavage of the cyclic radical cation. The monophenyl derivatives 9cis and trans and 10 were stable under these irradiation conditions. The mechanism for the carbon–carbon bond cleavage and for the cis–trans isomerization is discussed. An explanation, based upon conformation, is offered for the lack of reactivity of 9 and 10. Molecular mechanics (MM2) calculations were used to determine the preferred conformation of 9cis and trans, and 10. Key words: photosensitization, electron transfer, radical cation, carbon–carbon bond cleavage, conformation.


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